Monday, April 15, 2013

Manatee, Monty and Milchman


Look how nice they look!
Manatees are so cool. They just chill, being all groovy...

I'd so love to swim with them.


Magical Monty Python

Anyone who knows Monty Python pretty well and sees my self-appointed title (Watery Tart) knows I'm a fan. Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail is my favorite movie EVER and Life of Brian is a very close second. But just LOOK at these nuts. Can you think of people it would be more fun to hang out with? Because I just can't. Michael Palin has always been my favorite, though I love all of them in most of their forms. They just really are the best possible argument for always being as silly as possible. Life is just more fun that way.

Here are a few of my favorite clips:

The one my name comes from
The French Taunting
The Romanian Grammar Police
Spank Me!
Knights Who Say Ni!
What Have the Romans Done For Us?


Jenny Milchman and Cover of Snow

The next book in my TBR pile is one I am VERY excited to get to. Jenny came through Ann Arbor recently—her family is going a real live drive-all-over book tour. She is one of my ABNA buddies and is FANTASTICALLY supportive of her fellow writers. Here is the blurb for her book:


Waking up one wintry morning in her old farmhouse nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Nora Hamilton instantly knows that something is wrong. When her fog of sleep clears, she finds her world is suddenly, irretrievably shattered: Her husband, Brendan, has committed suicide.

The first few hours following Nora’s devastating discovery pass for her in a blur of numbness and disbelief. Then, a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. Why would a rock-solid police officer with unwavering affection for his wife, job, and quaint hometown suddenly choose to end it all? Having spent a lifetime avoiding hard truths, Nora must now start facing them.

Unraveling her late husband’s final days, Nora searches for an explanation—but finds a bewildering resistance from Brendan’s best friend and partner, his fellow police officers, and his brittle mother. It quickly becomes clear to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown . . . and its darkest secrets hidden.



21 comments:

Grammy said...

Hello, my friend, good to see you again. You know, I must confess, I've never seen a Monty Python movie, although I've heard and read about them for years. I know my kids have seen them, but somehow, I just never got around to it. Maybe someday... Best regards to you. Ruby

Melody said...

Monty Python is hysterical - they don't make 'em like that anymore!!

Old Kitty said...

Manatees are the best! They should be wrapped up in cotton wool and showered with kisses - they're adorable!! Monty Python says it all really!!

And yay for Jenny Milchman!! Take care
x

Natasha said...

Here I am struggling to find ONE word every day, and you are churning out three of them everyday!

Coffee Rings Everywhere

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I love manatees! Those "gentle giants" are just so peaceful and soothing to watch. When I go to the aquarium, I could just watch them forever. Them and the sea turtles. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

There are so many great quotes from Monty Python - movies and the TV show. I am a big fan of the cheese shop and ex-parrot skits.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

If someone would let me I would have a Manatee as a pet. Yes I would.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

That book sounds really good!

I love manatees too. For some reason, I always think of Jimmy Buffett when I see a picture of one.

I haven't seen a Monty Python film for decades. Maybe I should watch them again. I always wondered where "Watery Tart" came from.

Kathy M.

Ella said...

I love this post! Manatees are such calm n' gentle creatures! I might need to go watch them on youtube ;D


I am going to reward myself with a helping of Monty Python tonight~
I can remember being in stitches laughing so hard!

Jenny's book looks fab!

Thanks Hart


Michael Di Gesu said...

Manatees are so sweet.. When I lived in Fort Lauderdale, I saw them all the time. Their movements are slow and graceful...

LOVE MONTY PHYTHON ...

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I'll put Jenny's book on my TBR list!

Manatees always look so *happy*!

Unknown said...

I want to swim with Manatees too. They are SO cute. :)

And the book sounds really good!! Good luck to your friend with it, she sounds like she's got something awesome there.

Yolanda Renée said...

The book is now on the TBR list, awesome!

Manatees and Tj was in the news this week. Monty Python would have loved the humor, Manatee Gray! :)

CA Heaven said...

I'm fan of Monty Python to. Life of Brian was banned in our country due to blasphemy. Fortunately the religious maniacs don't have such power anymore >:)

Cold As Heaven

Lexie Rising said...

We absolutely love Manatees at our house! We wanted to visit some places when we went to Fla. but ended up not getting to. We were very bummed.

I grew up on Monty Python (a weird way to grow up!) It's so very funny.

Great sounding book! :)

~Sia McKye~ said...

My husband tried to educate me on the joys of Monty Python. It wasn't a unqualified success. Most of the time he gets too silly for me. But, he cracks Dan up. Then again, Dan likes the Three Stooges. Repeatedly. They were funny the first time and I was 11 watching them every afternoon after school on TV.

Cover of Snow sounds like a really good read. I'll have to check it out. :-)

Helena said...

Michelle's book sounds really good, so I'll keep it in mind.

Hey, I love Monty Python enough to use some of their stuff in my book (as you know)! And of the scenes you listed, my favorite is the Roman grammar scene. We must learn our Latin declension! And have you ever seen Spamalot! OMG, the French taunting (or farting) scene almost made me cry, I was laughing so hard.

Michael Palin and other MP guys also pop up on History Channel and other documentaries, which is a treat. Those guys are SO smart. My sister and I watched one of their shows that was done entirely in German. Neither of us know any German but we were crying with laughter.

VR Barkowski said...

Love manatees, and yes, they do look nice. Monty Python looks nice, too. :) MP and the Quest for the Holy Grail is def my favorite, although my favorite music is in Spamalot.

Jenny's book looks awesome. I'm off to check it out.

~VR Barkowski

Jagoda said...

Manatees are such gentle creatures--hard not to like them. "Cover of Snow" sounds fun--I'm adding it to my list.
From A to Z
Jagoda

Alison DeLuca said...

Hurray for Cover of Snow and Jenny Milchman! Also, the spanking and the tart and all things Monty. We used to have to watch it on VHF (remember that - with the weird dial above the regular dial on old TV's) If only came in if we balanced the dial between two channels, as though we had hacked into another dimension.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Hart - I didn't appreciate Monty Python for years! I agree Manatees are wonderful creatures - I hope they don't disappear ..

Cheers Hilary